My latest discovery: dry gardens in Tuscany!
Psst, I am working on the restoration of a very exciting villa in the Bolgheri area. I can’t tell you more for the time being, but the history and the location are really exciting.
I am not an expert in garden design. I just know what I like and what I don’t like… I guess, you have to start somewhere! My research brought me to the local nursery Botanical Dry Garden near Orbetello on the Maremma coast. The name piqued my interest as water scarcity is a huge challenge in Maremma and all over Italy.
The owner Luca Agostini is a charismatic man, and his passion is contagious. He has a five-hectare (more than 12 acres) show garden which spurred my imagination. I was introduced to drought-tolerant alternatives to the traditional water-devouring green lawns, with mysterious names such as Achillea chrithmifolia, Lippia nodiflora and several other plants I had never heard of. You can find some of them here. I was especially infatuated with the cypress tree maze and the impressive wooden watch tower that Luca Agostini built on his own during Italy’s first lockdown.
The nursery’s extensive park is open to the public. It’s a wonderful way to spend a morning in Maremma. No doubt, this will be an insightful and entertaining visit for families with children and garden lovers alike.
BOTANICAL DRY GARDEN Strada Prov. 160 Amiatina n° 42, 58015 – Orbetello (GR).
Opening times: 8 AM-12:30 PM / 2 PM-6 PM. Entrance fee: 10€ adults. 7€ students and people over 65. Free for children up to six years. No pets.
